Lighting fixture having resiliently mounted diffuser globe



July 28, 1959 P. A. JONES LIGHTING FIXTURE HAVING RESILIENTLY MOUNTED DIFFUSER GLOBE Filed May 28, 1957 BY wwkk/ A ORNEYS llIGI-ITIN G FIXTURE HAVING RESILIENTLY MOUNTED DIFFUSER GLOBE This invention generally relates to lighting fixtures in which a housing serves as a base or holder for a lamp socket and a removable diffuser globe or cover for the lamp.

Numerous fixtures are available in which a housing is provided with an internal lamp socket and threads or other securing means for attaching a globe or similar light diffusing element thereto, so as to substantially encompass the lamp. Heretofore, in connection with such fixtures, it has been conventional practice to provide an inverted generally cup-shaped housing with a lamp socket secured to the top wall thereof and with the walls of the housing internally threaded to receive the threaded upper end portion of the diffuser globe. In place of the threaded connection, many fixtures of this type have a plurality of screws extending through the cylindrical walls of the housing and bearing against a slightly restricted neck portion of the globe to releasably retain the same in position.

Since the average globe is formed of glass or a glass substitute, its zone of engagement with the housing threads or screws frequently becomes broken, particularly when the globe is accidently struck.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a lighting fixture in which a diffuser globe may be resiliently attached to the lamp housing, thereby Inaterially decreasing the possibility of damage to the globe.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel globe supporting mechanism in connection with a lamp housing which may be simply formed so as to minimize the cost thereof and which may be utilized for securing the globe in a relatively conventional manner.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a lighting fixture as above described, which while providing for attachment of the globe to the lamp housing by customary method of screw-threaded interengagement, nevertheless affords the globe a yielding mounting so as to reduce danger of breakage of the globe in case it is accidentally struck or the threaded engagement improper.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which with the foregoing will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the lighting fixture with the globe positioned therein.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the structure shown in Figure l with the globe removed.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially in the plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figures 4 and 5 are front and rear perspective views of one of the globe supporting segments.

Figure 6 is a portional view similar to Figure 1, but

2,897,350 Patented July 28, 1959 ice 2 illustrating the position of the fixture parts without the globe engaged therewith.

As shown in the drawing, the lighting fixture wilt be seen to include in general a metal housing 12, a glassglobe 1-3, a lamp socket 14, and means 16 for releasably supporting the globe on the housing. The housing 12 in the position illustrated is of generally invertedcupshaped configuration and includes a cylindrical Wall 17, having an integral top wall 18 at the upper end thereof, and an open bottom. Disposed centrally of the Wall 18- and along a diameter thereof are a pair of downwardly directed bosses 19 having internally threaded bores 21'. These bores are adapted to receive screws 22 of a conventional lamp socket 23, whereby the socket may be readily secured to the housing by merely inserting the screws 22 and engaging them with the threaded bores 21 of the housing. Intermediate the bosses 19 and the upper end of the lamp socket, I provide a resilient metal strap 24, such strap extending diametrically of the housing and terminating radially inwardly of the wall 17 thereof. This strap serves as a support for the globe supporting means 16. The screws 22 serve to clamp the socket 23 against the bosses 19 so as to hold the strap in place.

The supporting means 16, as here illustrated, comprises a pairof arcuate segments, each of the segments being, substantially identical and disposed indiametrically opposed relationship within the housing. Each of the segments includes a side wall 31, which is formed asa portion of a cylinder, and the inner surface of such wall is formed with screw threads as illustrated at 32. Each wall is provided with a transversely disposed flange 33',

and such flange has one or more apertures 34 therein for a purpose to be later explained. Actually, the flange 33 defines with the wall 31 an included angle of slightly less than degrees. Thus, when the segmental sections are positioned within the housing, the flanges under the influence of spring strap 24, will normally, as shown in Figure 6, be positioned adjacent the inner surface of the wall 18, and thewall 31 of the segment will be disposed at a small acute angle to the cylindrical wall 17"of the housing. Each of the segments is thus capable of limwith the socket screws 22 tightened to properly position the strap 2'4, the latter will overlie the lugs 36 and maintain the segments in proper diametrically opposed relation, yet readily permit theaforementioned rocking movement. Thus, as shown in Figure 1, when the threaded end portion 37 of the globe is between the segments and engaged with the threads 32 thereof, only diametrically opposed portions of the globe threads will be engaged, and since the segments are capable of tilting movement, no undue strain will be placed upon the globe, particularly at the weakened threaded portion, even though the globe is struck by some impact blow or the like. Furthermore, with the resilient screw connection of the present invention, the globe will be firmly held in position without the need of screwing the globe in very tightly, and thus the danger of breaking the globe on this account will be materially reduced.

As will be seen, the strap 24 is provided with apertures 39 to permit the passage of the screws 22 and to properly position the strap on the bosses. Electrical wiring for the fixture is supplied by conduits 41 which may be brought into the socket through one of the openings 34 in each of the segmental sections, and these conductors also serve with the assistance of the strap to retain the segments moving around the housing. If desired a loose pin or rivet (not shown) may extend through the other of the openings 34 and through corresponding apertures in the wall 18 for preventing said movement. This connection should be relatively loose so that the segments may rock to permit the wall 31 to be moved from or to the wall 17 of the housing, such as when the globe is inserted or removed from the housing, or if a load or impact is imparted to the globe when secured to the segments. In any event, it will be evident that since the globe threads are only engaged for a small portion of the circumference, and since the means by which such threads are engaged and supported within the housing may yield relative thereto, the fixture is capable of receiving relatively rough treatment Without danger of breaking the globe at its connection to the housing.

What is claimed is:

l. A lighting fixture comprising a housing having a top wall and a depending side wall, a lamp socket, means for securing said lamp socket in said housing, a pair of opposed arcuate internally threaded segments disposed within and extending along said housing adjacent the juncture of said walls and having angularly related portions disposed adjacent said top and side walls respectively, and means resiliently urging the portion of each segment adjacent said top wall towards said top wall while permitting limited rocking movement of the segments away from the top wall.

2. A fixture as set forth in claim 1, including a diffuser globe threadedly engageable with said segment.

3. A device of the character described, comprising a housing having a top wall and depending side wall, a lamp socket within said housing releasably engageable with said top wall, a generally right angular element having one wall thereof providing an arcuate peripheral surface disposed within said housing adjacent a portion of said side wall and the other wall thereof adjacent said top wall, means defining globe receiving threads on an inner surface of said one wall, and a resilient strap engageable with said other wall for resiliently maintaining the same in position within said housing by urging said other wall towards said top wall.

4. A lighting fixture comprising a generally cylindrical housing, having a top Wall, a pair of bosses extending downwardly from said top wall along a diameter thereof, a lamp socket, screw means releasably securing said socket to said bosses, a resilient strap positioned between said bosses and said socket and extending diametrically of said housing, an angular element positioned within said housing With one leg thereof disposed adjacent said top wall and another leg thereof having: globe mounting means thereon disposed adjacent said side wall, and said resilient strap overlying and engaging said first mentioned leg for resiliently maintaining said element in position.

5. A device as set forth in claim 3, in which the Walls of said element define an included angle of less than 90 degrees, whereby said element is capable of limited rocking movement within said housing.

6. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a lamp housing having a cylindrical side wall and a transversely extending top wall, a lamp socket within said housing, means releasably securing said lamp socket to said top wall, a diametrically extending metal strap mounted in said housing in spaced relation to said top wall, a pair of diametrically opposed members each having a generally angular cross-sectional form including a base portion and a depending leg and extending along an arcuate portion of the interior surface of said side wall each base portion being operatively positioned between said top wall and said strap with the latter resiliently urging the base portion towards said top wall, said depending leg being internally threaded having its outer surface disposed adjacent said housing side wall, each of said members being capable of limited rocking movement within said housing about an axis parallel to the plane of said top wall.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6, including a diffuser globe having external threads adjacent the upper end thereof and releasably engageable with said threads on said members.

'8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6, in which said base and said leg form an included angle of slightly less than 90 degrees.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6, in which each of said members extends for approximately 45 degrees of arcuate extent.

10. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a housing having a top wall and depending side Walls, a lamp socket releasably secured to and depending from said top wall generally centrally thereof, a diametrically extending metal strap disposed and supported in generally parallel spaced relationship to said top wall with the ends thereof being resilient for movement from and towards said top wall, a pair of arcuate segments, each having a generally angular cross-sectional form disposed adjacent diametrically opposed portions of said side walls with an upper portion thereof adjacent said top wall and another portion thereof adjacent said side wall, lug means extending downwardly from the upper portion of each segment and engageable by an end portion of said strap for resiliently maintaining said segments in position within said housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,203,153 Stevens Oct. 31, 1916 2,133,159 Weston Oct. 11, 1938 2,146,637 MacFadden Feb. 7, 1939 2,753,446 Lester July 3, 1956 

